Apparatus for electrodeposition



March 3, 1931. c. E. YATES 1,794,748

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRODEPOS ITION Filed June 26, 1928 I I I 36 4 0 9/ 4 35 389;)

Patented Mar. 3, 193i CHARLES E. YATES, OF EAST RUTHERFQRD, NEW JERSEY, SIG-NOR TO ANAGUNDA SALES GOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAW APPARATUS FOR ELECTEODEPOS'ITION Application filed June 26,

This invention relates to electro-deposition 'apparatus and has particular reference to apparatus used for electroplating uniform articles in large quantities. The apparatus is particularly useful in the manufacture of so called copper-clad roofing elements which consist of a base of various non-metallic materials, such as impregnated roofing felt, coated with copper or other weather-resistant material on that part of the felt which is normally exposed to the weather when the elements are laid in courses in the usual manner. An embodiment of the invention suitable for that purpose will accordingly be described in detail though it will be understood a that the utility of the invention is not limsively immersed. The elements, which have a previously been given a conducting coating over the surfaces which are to receive the deposit, are clamped in pairs alternately between but insulated from metallic anodes in I movable frames, which are carried by an endless conveyor over the electrolytic tanks so as to immerse the elements and anodes concurrently in the electrolyte. 'lheelectrolytic deposit upon the exposed surfaces of the pairs of elements takes place in the well-known manner, an electric current efiecting the partial solution of the anode metal and the deposition of that metal upon the elements through the agency of the electrolyte.

As the completed elements emerge from the final electrolytic tank, it is necessary that they be handled with care since they are plated with a relatively thin film of copper and they may be damaged if roughly handled. Immediately after their withdrawal from the tank, traces of the electrolyte must be washed 01?, and in the operation of the machine of the patent, the clamping means by which the pairs of. elements are held between ad acent anodes is released, the anodes successively separated by the workmen and the pairs of 1928. Serial No. 28$,d12.

elements withdrawn and placed in a wash tank. The great weight of the anodes makes it diilicult to move them in the frame to release the elements between them and these manual operations are therefore laborious and add considerably to the cost of the finished product.

This invention is accordingly directed to the provision of apparatus for releasing the completed elements from the carrying frame after the completion of the electro-deposition and the delivery of these elements to the wash tank. This novel apparatus is placed at a point in the travel of the conveyor on which the frames are mounted adjacent the end of the final electrolytic tank and it includes a short table over which the elements sup-' ported in the tank pass. In the movement of the frames, with the elements in place therein, automatic mechanism operates to release the clamps and to move the anodes apart successively so that the plated elements drop down a short distance into contact with the top of the table. As they are moved over thistable by the conveyor, they remain in a vertical position and at'the end of the table is a counter-balanced extension or tray to withdrawn by hand and as soon as a pair of elements has been carried off the end of the tray by' conveyor movement, the counter- Fig. 2,is an end view. The apparatus as illustrated is shown disposed'near the end of a long electrolytic tank- 10, over which runs the conveyor carrying a plurality of carriages or frames 11, and the frame shown has passed through this tank and been carried upwardly out of it near the end thereof. The conveyor is of the double-chain type with the frames lying between the chains, and the chains are led around suitable sprocket wheels 13, only one of which is shown. Near the discharge end of the tank is placed the wash tank 14, and as the frame is carried upwardly and out of the tank 10, it has heretofore been the practice to release certain clamping means carried on the frames and to spread the anodes apart successively so that each pair of elements clamped between a pair of adjacent anodesmay be removed by hand and dropped into the wash tank 14. By the apparatus of the present invention, this spreading of the anodes is automatically accomplished and the pairs of elements gently delivered to the wash tank.

The elements are supported in place in the frame 11, which is swung on a cross shaft 16, the ends of which are provided with wheels 17 running on rails 18. Suspended from cross-bars 19, one at each end of the frame, is a sub-frame 20 which includes a pair of bars 21, each having-a strip of conducting material 22 on its upper face. Sup-. ported on the strips 22 are the anode assemblies, eachof which includes a conducting rod 23 from which the main body 24 of the anode is suspended. On each anode are mounted separators 25 of insulating material which are formed so as to define a part of each element upon which a plating of metal is desired, each separator masking the remaining parts so that upon immersion, plating on such parts is prevented. Mounted on each anode rod 23 is a bar 27 to which a plurality of metal strips 26 are attached, these strips contacting with the conducting surfaces of the elements to withdraw current therefrom. 7 Each bar 27 is insulated from its supporting rod 23 by a strip of insulating material 28 and this insulation includes a part which extends around one end of the rod 23 so as to lie between that rod and one of the conducting strips 22. The bar 27 also has an extension at one end which contacts with this particular strip 22. The strip 22 with which the anode rods are in direct electrical contact is connected to a positive bus bar of the tank by'connections not shown, and each bar 27 is connected electrically by its extension to the other strip 22, which is in turn connected to a negative bus bar of the cells by connections not shown. With this arrangement, the plating current passes from the positive bus bar through one of the stri s 22 to the anode supporting rods and to t e anodes, and thence cross-bar 31.

tive by introducing smaller wedges 32 be through the solution to the conducting sur faces of the elements, from which surfaces the current iswithdrawn through the strips 26 and flows through the bar- 27 t0 the other conducting strip 22 and thence to the negative bus bar of the cell.

In loading a frame the anode assemblies are successively moved apart and between each pair of anodes is placed a pair of elements back to back with their conducting faces toward the anodes. Vhen a pair of elements has been placed between a pair of anodes, these anodes are moved toward each other so that the separators bear against the elements and hold them fast, these operations being repeated until a pair of elements lies between every pair of anode assemblies. The parts are then held in this position by any convenient means such as wedges. I

Mounted as a part of the frame at one end is one or more fixed wedges 29 diagonally disposed between cross-bars 19 and 31,and at the other end of the frame are placed wedges 30 which are pivotally mounted on the The wedges 30 are made effectween the upper ends of the wedges 30 and the bar 19, and these wedges 32 are attached to the cross-bar 19 by chains or cords 33, each end of the chain being connected to the wedge with the intermediate portion looped around the bar 19.

Disposed at the discharge end of electrolytic tank 10 is a table 34 which overhangs washing tank 14, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The framing for table 341nay include a bar 35 across tank 10 and longitudinal braces 36, which preferably do not extend the entire length of platform 34, and which slightly space the latter from the lower edges of clamped elements 15 as they pass over it. Onev end of the rotatable rod 37 passing through the ends of braces 36 is fitted with a crank 38 upon which is mount-. ed and adjustable coimter-weight 39. Opposite the crank 38 and also fixed to the rod 37 are several brackets 40, to the free ends of which is fastened an extension or tray 41, which normally engages the lower surface of latform 34 at its forward edge and exten s partly beyond said edge. The pro- Suspended in the path of the frame 11,

which is-moved in the direction of the arrow by conveyor 12, is a pawl 42 freely mounted upon rod- 43 between collars 44. Rod 43 is sl-idably mounted in standards 45 and one end thereof is connected to lever 46 pivoted upon bracket 47 secured to one of the standmeans ards 45. The free end of lever 46 carries roller 48, which is adapted to engage crown cam 49 upon theinner surface of disc cam 50, which is freely journalled upon shaft 51 mounted in floor brackets 52. Also freely journalled upon shaft 51 is a sprocket wheel 53 whichjs driven in synchronism with the movements of frame 11, and preferably by a chain connection 54 with an auxiliary sprocket wheel 55 secured to conveyor sprocket wheel 13. The cam 49-50 is pro- ,53 is driven by the same means which drives frame 11, namely, conveyor sprocket wheel 13.

The movement of crown cam 49 is accordingly so timed with respect to the movement of frame 11, that when the removable wedge 32 on the frame 11 moves into alignment with pawl 42, the lever 46 is moved by the crown cam 49 and moves rod '43 and pawl 42 to the right as seen in Fig. 2 to slide the wedges 32 out from between the pivoted wedges 30 and cross bar 19 of frame 11. The crown cam 49 is so formed as shown in Fig. 1, that thelever 46 is returned to cause the return of pawl 42 to the position shown in Fig. 2 before the frame 11 has passed beyond the pawl 42, so that the latter will clear rear wedge 29 and lie in readiness for the next frame. A spring 56 upon slidable rod 43 serves to keep roller 48 in the end oflever 46 in engagement with the face of crown cam 49 at all times.

' nism is rovided for s readin these heav anodes 24, separators 25, etc.

This spreading mechanism includes a shaft 58 journalled in braces 36. Upon the shaft is fixed a pair of bell-crank levers 59, the upper ends of which are bifurcated for the reception of bar-s60 which are provided with a slot through which pass pins 61 pivotally mounting bars 60 upon the ends of levers 59. A coil spring 62 on each bar 60 tends-to keep these bars in a forward position and at the same time aifloating support therefor is provided by virtue of the pin and slot mounting on levers 59. The forward ends of bars 60 are shaped to fit the under and rear edges of the rods 23 as shown in Fig. 1 and the rear ends'of these bars 60 are provided with adjustable counter-weights 63 which tend to elevate the forward ends -of bars 60 so that they will engage the successive rods 23 as these rods move along with carriage 11. In order that the counter-weights 63 may not overbalance bars 60 between successive frames 11 these bars are provided with stops 64 which limit the elevation of the forward end of these bars by engaging levers 59.

A crank 65 fixed upon one end of shaft 58 is provided with a roller or wiper 66 which is kept in engagement with the face of disc cam 50 by counter-weight 67 mounted upon the free end of bell-crank 59, which is fixed upon shaft 58 in the manner described. The

cam 50 is provided with a plurality of projections, the spaces between adjacent projections being proportional to the spaces between the rods 23 on frame 11, and the movements of the cam 50 and frame 11 are so timed that each projection on the cam causes bars 60 to engage one of the rods 23, the rods 23 being successively engaged by bars 60 as the frame 11 moves. For example, as shown in the drawings, there are eleven rods 23 rest with projection 56 on cam disc 50, each projection on the cam causes the bars 60 to engage an anode assembly and move it free of the one following it, thereby releasing the elements between these anodes.

In operation, the conveyor 12 moves frame 11 out of the final electrolytic tank 10 and over table 34, which the lower edges of electroplated elements 15 just clear. As the small wedges 32 are moved into alignment with pawl 42, the pawl is moved abruptly to the right, as seen in Fig. 2, by crown cam 49 coacting with lever 46 and rod 43 upon which pawl 42 is mounted, this movement knocking out these small wedges 32. As the first set of elements 15 passes over the end of table 34 and over the extension 41, the bars 60 are moved to engage the first rod 23 and the first projection of cam 50then raises lever 65, turning shaft 58 and moving levers 59 and attached bars 60 forwardly to advance the first rod 23. The moves the first anode assembly away from the one following it and the elements 15 which have been frictionally held between these assemblies are released.

'sition to repeat the operation untilall the elements have been removed from the frame.

As frame 11. advances and cam 50 rotates, the bars 60 are successively actuated to spread the anode assemblies which frictionally hold the sets of elements 15 until they are'all released in the manner described. The springs 62 on the bars 60 are strong enough to push therods 23 as the lever 59 is actuated, but

they yield sufliciently to prevent breakage and at the same time to provide a floating mounting for pusher bars 60. After the elements have been removed from one frame the apparatus is restored to its original condition in readiness to perform the same operations upon the next succeeding frame, the operation being automatic and continuous. The frames, after being uiiloaded, are refilled with elements to be electroplated in any suit.- table way.

'While the new apparatus has been described in connection with a process for electroplating roofing elements it is obvioiis that it may be applied with equal facility to the unloading of frames containing other kinds of articles which have been treated in some otherlway. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the apparatus is susceptible of many modifications and adaptations within the scope of the invention, and is not limited to the particular embodiment shown and described herein.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, a movable balanced platform adjacent said table, and a member for moving an article from said table to said platform, said platform being adapted to move under the weight of the article.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a table, a member moving parallel to said table, said member being adapted to move an article along saidtable,

a balanced part of said table disposed in the ing movable under the weight of said articleto remove the same as it moves thereupon.

4. In apparatus of the type described, the.

combination of a moving member adapted to carry an article, means to release said article, a surface disposed adjacent said released article and upon which it is moved in unable by the weight of said article to remove the same.

5. Apparatus of the type described comrising the combination of a moving memer arranged to carry an article, means for releasing the article, a table arranged adjacent the path of the member and adapted to subsequently support the article in position to be engaged and moved by the said member and a movable part on the table upon which the article is moved by the member, this extension being movable under the weight of the article. j 6. Apparatus of the type described comprising the combination of a moving member arranged to carry an article, means for releasing the article, a table arranged adjacent the path of the member and adapted to support the article in position to be engaged and moved by said member after. the article has been released, a movable part on the table upon which the article is moved by the member, this part being movable under the weight of the article to permit the article to move out of engagement by the member, and a receiver to which the article is transferred by the movement of the said extension.

7. Apparatus of the type described comprising the combination of a moving member arranged to grip and carry an article, means for releasing the grip of the member on the article, a table arranged adjacent the path of the member and adapted to support the. article in position to be engaged and moved by the said member after the grip of the latter on the article has been released, a movable extension on the table upon which the article is. moved by the member, this extension being movable under the weight of the article to permit the article to move out of engagement by the member, and a receptacle into which the article is deposited by the movement of the said extension.

8. Apparatus of the typedescribed comprising in combination a moving frame provided with means for gripping an article, a table. arranged adjacent the path. of the frame, means for releasing the grip ofthe member to drop the article on the table in unchanged'relative position, a movable extension on the table upon which the article is moved by the member, a counter-balance for said extension, said extension being movable by the weight of said article when moved thereupon to remove the same, said countermeans 7 balance being adapted to return the extension adjacent to the table, and a receptacle into which the article isdeposited by the movement of the extension.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame adapted to clamp and carry an article, a table over which the article is carried, means fordisengaging the clamping means when said frame is in juxtaposition to said table, said article thereupon resting on said table, a pivotal extension in said table in the path of said article, a counterbalance for said extension, and a receptacle below said extension, said extension being adapted to tip under the weight of the article moved thereupon and deposit the article in said receptacle, and said counter-balance being adapted to return said extension adj a-' cent said table.

10, In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a moving frame, clamping members mounted on said frame holding an article between them, mechanism synchronized with the movements of the frame for moving said members relatively torelease the article, a receptacle for receiving the article, and means between the frame and the receptacle responsive to the weight of the article to break the fall thereof.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a moving frame, members mounted on the frame for holding an article between them, means for locking said members together, mechanism synchronized to the movement of the frame for unlocking said means, devices associated with said mechanism for moving said members relatively torelease the, article, and means responsiveto the weight of the released article for trans.- ferring the same. i

12. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a frame, holding means for a plurality of articles in the frame, mechamsm acting upon said means for partially, releasing all of the articles in the frame, a

device acting periodically upon said means to entirely release the articles one by one, and means foi receiving the articles as released. I

-13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, releasable means for holding a plurality of articles in .the frame, a table, means for moving said frame over said table, mechanism driven by said means for actuatin said releasable meansso that the articles r0 upon the table, and means responsive to t e weight of each article to trznsfer each article separately from said ta 1e.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, members on the fpame between which a plurality of articles are inserted, means for clamping said members together to grip said articles, a table over which theframe is moved, means for over which the frame is moved, a cam driven in synchronismwith the movement of the frame, a pawl actuated bythe cam to release said clamping means, whereby the articles drop upon the table and are moved therealong by the frame, an extension at the end extension being movable by the weight of said articles to transfer them, and a receptacle. for receivingsaid articles from said extension.

16, In apparatus of the class described,'the combination of a frame, members on the frame between which a plurality-of articles are inserted, means for clamping said members together to grip said article ea table over which the frame is moved, a dim driven in synchronism with. the movement of the frame, a pawl actuated by the'cam to release said clamping means, whereby the articles are partially released by said members to drop upon the table and be moved therealong byv movement of the frame, ,a device periodically actuated by the cam to spread said members whereby the articles are entirely released,- and ah extension on said table responsive to the weight of the articles for transferring "them from said table.

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, members on the frame between which a plurality of articles are inserted, means for clamping said members together to grip said articles, a table over which the frame is moved, a cam driven in synchronism with the movement of the frame, a. pawl actuated by the cam to release said clamping means, whereby the articles are partially released by said members to drop upon the table and be moved therealong, by movement of the frame, a second cam driven in synehronism with the movement of the frame, arms actuated by said second cam to en age'said members successively to entirely elease said articles, a movable extension on said table for receiving the articles after operation of the second cam, said extension being responsive to-the' weight of the articles for transferring them, and a tank for receiving said articles.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES E. YATES.

of the table for-receiving the articles, said 

